Another annual sign that the college football season is rapidly approaching is the release of the national polls’ first rankings of the season. One of the two major polls, the USA TODAY Sports AFCA football coaches poll, put out its first edition of 2023 on Monday and the Texas Tech football team was included for the first time in ages.
Checking in at No. 24, the Red Raiders are one of five current Big 12 schools to open this season in the top 25. Texas (12th), TCU (16th), Kansas State (17th), and Oklahoma (19th) also represent the conference in the ranking as over a third of the 14 members in the league will start the year ranked.